Disabled Man and His Eight Dogs Will Be Made Homeless Unless a Miracle Happens

Arden Christensen is an avid dog lover, and knows for certain they are family members. He has faced some very dark times, including a spinal injury and the unexpected loss of his son, and his dogs have been the ones to help him through them. But new management in his duplex is evicting him and his eight dogs. He refuses to abandon them, and is desperately pleading for a miracle.

He got Sasha as a puppy in 2005. The next year his son tragically died due to an unknown heart condition. After that he got Cornelious, a rat terrier, whom he says was “such a little terror, and not much for snuggling.” In 2007, he and his burgeoning family moved into the apartment.

Things were still very bad for Arden. His son’s death destroyed him, and he was drinking heavily. Nearly two years to the day of the death, he was asked by a friend to foster a pit bull puppy.

“I really wasn’t sure I wanted to take on another puppy,” Arden said. “He has been my constant companion since then.”

Believing he was too young to have puppies, Arden hadn’t gotten him fixed just yet, and one day walked in on him having his way with Sasha.

“Next day we took him to get snipped, but was too late,” he explained. “Our little runt Baby was born with a condition and could not digest his food. We took him to the vet and he said there was nothing he could do and he passed in his sleep two nights later.”

Arden often gives up his bed so the doggies can sleep comfortably.

He tried to find good homes for the rest of the litter when they were old enough. But sadly, he found out that two of them weren’t being cared to by his standards, and a third was hit and killed by a car. After that, he refused to part with the rest of them.

“Since then they have been my saviors. With keeping me going through those first years, to the last few when I found my girlfriend/fiancée was using again – she had been clean the 10 years we were together – and was cheating on me,” Arden confided.

“I was in the process of my disability application from a spinal injury I received in 1993. While waiting for a hearing, and right after finding out about my girlfriend, I fell on some ice and ended up with my fourth neck surgery and second back surgery.”

He finally received his disability approval in 2012, but as anyone who is granted disability will tell you, payments are minimal and barely cover the cost of basic housing and other necessities, let alone have enough to save for the cost of moving to a new place.

“I have been living alone with my eight wonderful angels since. I swore I would never abandon any of them, and would gladly give my life for them.”

In January of this year, new management took over the property, and began inspecting all of the rentals in February. In June Arden received a termination notice for July 31st with no reason stated. He has been told that the building is not up to code and needs to be renovated, but as far as he knows, none of the other tenants have been forced to leave. He has only until August 5th to find a new place that will accommodate eight dogs.

“I CANNOT lose my pack – they are my life,” he said.

Arden’s sister Julie has created a fundraiser to help. Please, if you can spare anything, even a dollar, it would mean the world to this devastated family. Please CLICK HERE to help.

Because grass would never grow, Arden laid down carpet for the dogs to romp around on.

About Melanie

studied English and has a bachelor's degree in psychology, with a focus on animal behavior, neuropsychology, and psychotherapy. She shares two pit bulls (adopted from the SPCA Serving Erie County) with her family, as well as three adopted cats with her husband, Fred. She takes pride in being a grammar enthusiast and advocating for animals, the environment, equal rights, and humanitarianism. She loves camping, cooking, taking photos, listening to psychedelic rock and indie music, and making all sorts of crafty things - from charm bracelets and paper rose bouquets to kitty condos and feral cat houses!

Melanie was sharing this profile with Fred, who is new to the Life With Dogs family, so many stories that were written by Fred from April 2014 - June 2014 will appear under Melanie's name.

If “payments are minimal and barely cover the cost of basic housing and other necessities, let alone have enough to save for the cost of moving to a new place”,
how does he afford care and feeding of all those dogs?

I too have been through very dark times (bipolar disorder, two divorces, homeless twice and currently unemployed), but I be wrong and self indulgent to adopt an animal just to make me feel better. Providing a forever home to a sweet and trusting animal is a very large commitment.

Does he get charity from somewhere for the dogs? Aren’t his friends and family willing to help him and take in all his dogs? If not, why? It seems there are some pieces of the story missing.

I luv animals & my heart goes out 2 this man, however, he’s struggling financially yet continues to have more animals. Struggling to feed himself and find more $ to help care for & feed his 8 dogs, with no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s like a couple barely making it and yet they keep having kids. He luvs dogs. The couple luv kids. Nothing wrong with that until living way beyond their means. Breaks my hearts BUT ENOUGH! I feel like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Somebody needs to say STOP! ENOUGH! MORE THEN ENOUGH. As sad as it is, he needs to start looking for forever homes. Sounds like he’ll never be able to work, times carpet in the back yard area. Can you imaging all that urine and fesses, the smell, the UNsanitary conditions his dogs constantly walking on it, rolling on it. TERRIBLE idea. Reality is the manager is saying OMG! + complains from others. Talk to any couple with 3+ children to rent an apartment, home, anything. If someone considers it, can you imagine the cleaning deposit just to be considered. This is NOT going to end well I’m sorry to say. A dose of reality says he needs counseling and to keep himself and his dogs from living in a cardboard box and they’re all hungry… Throwing money at this guy is only going to prolong the misery and end result. Enough said. I’m sure you see my point. He has traits of a Hoarder… Find homes or at some point, animal control will take them, and I’m sure he doesn’t want them (or himself) to be hungry, living in the cold, dr and vet bills…. I’d be willing to bet his daughter with her purple hair isn’t going to be able to help either… SORRrrrrrry. I truly am…